Being Restored

Job 42: ¹⁰ After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 

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¹² The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 

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Pondering Job’s calamity I learned a lot about GOD and myself. Job was trying to do what was right all his life. His faith was tested in extreme measures all in one day by losing his family, wealth and health. These are things that I and many I know hold dearly to their hearts. Quite honestly it looked like GOD was the bad guy in the story, but it was Satan who asked to do all of this to Job after GOD said “consider my servant Job.”

Here is what I learned:

• GOD sees every faithful action I do and wants me to do it for HIM no matter what condition I’m in.
• GOD knows I’m a sinner and I cannot fool HIM so I should stop trying to be righteous and start trusting in HIM.
• GOD’s ways are not my ways so I should not try to make HIM follow my ways rather learn how to follow HIM.
• GOD allows calamity in my life and others but HE always has a marvelous plan that we are not always privy to in this life.
• GOD is always in my corner even when it looks disastrous.

Job had to hang in through some incredibly rough times. He had no one around him who could help him through a GOD ordained issue. He had no way to stop the calamity and had practically given up. He wished he wasn’t born. BUT GOD restored him.

I did ponder a question. “Why did people have to die?” and all I could get from this slice of history is GOD has that in HIS control. HE holds life and death in HIS hands and “everything under heaven is HIS.” HE owns humans, wealth and health. Satan wants me to look at GOD as the problem when he is the one who seeks to devour me.

My focus should always remain on faith in GOD, trust in HIS love and hope in HIS deliverance.

• Do you think your righteousness is saving you from calamity?
• Do you trust in yourself more than you trust in GOD’s love for you?
• Will you stop trying to maneuver GOD and flow down HIS rushing river?
• Can you ask GOD to show you HIS plan for you this day and this day alone?

Is GOD, GOD in my life?

Exodus 29: ⁴⁴ “So I will set the Tent of Meeting and the altar apart. And I will set Aaron and his sons apart to serve me as priests.

⁴⁵ “Then I will live among the people of Israel. And I will be their God. ⁴⁶ They will know that I am the Lord their God. They will know that I brought them out of Egypt so I could live among them. I am the Lord their God.

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What a friend I have in JESUS or GOD is my roadie are songs I’ve heard but is HE really my pal or my buddy? I can ask HIM anything and I can tell HIM my deepest concern but HE is far from a pal or buddy. GOD is GOD. HE has the right to say yes to my prayers and HE can say “NO.” HE can give and HE can take away. HE can bless and judge. GOD is supreme in HIS decision.

I’m glad HE chose to save me!

A song of praise

Revelation 15: They held harps given them by God ³ and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
     Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
     King of the nations.
⁴ Who will not fear you, Lord,
     and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

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Today is a great opportunity for me to praise GOD. He does some great things in my life and I am richly blessed. Everything HE decides for me is alright to me. HE is the ultimate leader whom I fear.

I place HIM in the position of GOD rather than thinking HE is equal to or beneath me so HIS name is above any action I will take. One day I will worship HIM when I can see HIM but for now I worship HIM in faith.

Who should I be focused on?

Colossians 1: ¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

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Generosity was taught to me by my in-laws. Investing was taught to me by one of my best friend’s parents. Cooking was taught to me by many of my “mothers” and “uncles” from neighborhoods far and wide. My parents taught me about GOD.

These were people to admire yet they do not quite match up to the ONE I am supposed to look at.

• JESUS is the SON of GOD who created all things with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT.
• JESUS is the one who all things were created for.
• JESUS is the authority who puts rulers in charge of governments.
• JESUS is the one who is supreme over any force or power.
• JESUS is the glue that holds all things together.
• JESUS is the church and HE chose to die just for me.

In these days of people looking at other people to admire, it’s difficult to find someone who is truly in my corner. I mean what is the hidden agenda “that” person holds? JESUS is above everything so HE has no need to have a hidden agenda.

HE willingly and purposefully died for me to serve a sentence HE declared. HE said I should die because of my sins yet HE turned around and died for me.  Now that HE is alive HE is busy building a place for me and those who believe in HIS supremacy.  HE is the one I should focus on.

• Are you wearing yourself out trying to be a role model?
• Are you disappointed in someone?
• Have people pulled away from you?
• Can you focus on JESUS today and ponder what HE has done for you?
• Will you give HIM your cares today?

What is important?

1 Corinthians 15: ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.4 5 

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Awake, worried about the test I finally arose and studied. Awake, worried about the presentation I finally arose and prepared. Awake, worried about my family I finally arose and paced the house to clear my thoughts. How much time have I spent distracted?

• I spend way too much time worried about the future I cannot control.
• I spend way too much time thinking about what “if” instead of thinking about what “is.”
• I spend way too much time trying to make sense out of the senseless.

When I get shaken or beat up by the world I panic and try to develop a plan to fix everything. All the while I have missed the main point of my existence namely CHRIST.

• CHRIST is more important than anything I can worry about.
• CHRIST is more important than anything I can aspire to achieve.
• CHRIST is more important than anything I can hope to have.

Sometimes I make the mistake and think JESUS is only for my death. I mean I mistakenly think HIS only purpose is to save me from Hell and only focuses on heaven, but what about now? JESUS died for my sins and sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live with me daily. Each and every day I can consult with GOD to understand where to go and how to get there.

HE isn’t just the GOD of the future, HE is the GOD of the past and present as well. HE brings me peace today and has great plans for my future. HE is what I should focus on as being important.

• What are you worried about?
• Are you focused on what is not important?
• Can you believe GOD has a great plan specifically made for you?
• Will you believe HE is not trying to harm you but help you?

Is GOD fair?

Romans 9: ¹⁴ What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

   “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,

   and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

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Watching others get away with crimes or sin was provocative. I mean the frat guys would somehow get “the test” and I had to struggle. A group of guys who were good at keeping their jobs could toss anyone out on their ear and I had to watch. Someone else could act one way towards people and I couldn’t. GOD doesn’t seem fair!!

• What’s fair to me is not “just” for GOD.
• What I think is fair is really a form of getting my way.
• What’s fair to me is really an incomplete picture of what fairness really is.

Aren’t you glad I’m not GOD? I mean I would zap all the “bad” guys and keep all those who acted like they liked me. GOD is truly different in the way HE thinks.  HE has compassion on murderers, rapists and thugs who are truly repentant in their behavior meanwhile HE is harsh on those who act goody, goody thinking they can manipulate HIM.

GOD knows something I don’t know. HE knows the heart.  Deep inside of the person who seems to be getting away with everything GOD sees something I can’t quite imagine. HE sees the ability for HIS child to return back to HIM. HE also sees when I am being sinful and trying to cover it up with “goody, goody.”

• I actually don’t want GOD to be fair with me because I deserve death according to HIS decree.
• I actually don’t want GOD to be fair with me especially when I sin and want HIS forgiveness.
• I actually don’t want GOD to be fair with me because I would miss out on HIS gift of grace.

When my lip is poked out and I am throwing a pity party because GOD seems to be doing more for others it’s actually jealousy and envy at work in me rather than praise. It takes time to see GOD loves the most heinous sinner. The only relationship I should worry about is my relationship with GOD and there will be no envy.

• Are you jealous that someone is living an “easy” life and you are struggling?
• Are you able to pray for good things to happen to those who have wronged you?
• Will you ask GOD for compassion on your enemies today?
• Can you let go of the issues you have with others so GOD can let go of the issues HE has with you?

Is JESUS greater than me?

John 3: ³⁰ He must become greater; I must become less.”

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Tired of the club scene and finally coming to my senses, I went back to church and even became a Sunday school teacher. I spent hours the night before preparing my lesson.  I gave my message to the somewhat attentive teens.

Then I asked “how did I do?” One of them replied “You did very well, but I didn’t understand what you were talking about at all.” Wait! was that a bruise to my ego?

• In the past I have gone to church because that’s what my parents told me to do.
• In the past I prayed and thought to myself “Aren’t I just a good person? Look at me praying!”
• In the past I wanted to have a title in church or be part of some group.
• In the past I desired accolades from humans for all the great service “I” was doing.

I didn’t know I was bragging about my service but somehow my “good” nature would find its way into conversations. Someone may have said “Could you pass the milk?” and my reply would have been “Sure, I don’t drink dairy when I go on missions trips because I could get sick.”

GOD doesn’t need another person bragging about themselves, HE already has enough of those. In fact when I brag about my service, even inadvertently, I am secretly seeking all eyes on me. No wonder GOD wants me to give in secret, pray in secret and serve in secret.

GOD wants all eyes on the one and only SON, the savior of all mankind. It’s not about my job nor is it about my finances even though GOD is concerned about these things. It’s all about what JESUS has done for me. HE wants me to point my entire life, good and bad, toward HIM.

• I need to point people to praise GOD instead of looking at what I’m doing.
• I need to have others praise GOD especially when I am going through trials.
• I need to tell people to praise GOD because HE is much greater than me.

Awards and accolades are nice! I have received a lot of them throughout the years. But they pale in comparison to heavenly rewards GOD has for me. HE gives them to me when I truly do an act of humility specifically for HIM. GOD must come first in my life and everything else is secondary.

• Are you vying for attention by telling everyone your “pity” story?
• Are you accidentally bragging about your “service?”
• Can you serve GOD without being in front of the crowd for a change?
• Will you forget seeking “self-assurance” from humans for once and do something for GOD in secret?

I can’t see you my assumptions are in the way!

John 1: ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

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“I’m late and this guy isn’t here” I thought to myself. I waited in the hotel lobby and there were only a few people. “I’m sure a man of his wealth would be on time because he has to be a busy person” I surmised.  

A guy dressed like a wrinkled farmer caught my eye and said my name. “Are you looking for me?” he politely said in a calm tone. “I watched you for ten minutes but I wasn’t sure you were looking for me” he said.  “This is the guy who makes $2 Million a month; you’ve got to be kidding?” I thought.

• How many angels who were dressed as a person in need have I passed?
• How many people who I assumed didn’t “deserve” my help have I turned down?
• How many names have I conjured up for those who annoy me or have gotten in my way?

Assumptions are little packaged expectations wrapped in prejudiced and ignorance. GOD operates with “fact” and I never have to assume anything about HIM.

• JESUS came to Earth as a human to HIS chosen people who rejected HIM.
• JESUS, who is GOD, volunteered to die for the sins of all humans no matter how heinous the sin.
• JESUS knocked on the door of my heart and it was up to me to let HIM in

Sometimes I expect GOD to speak to me in a loud echoing voice and appear with some sort of blinding light. I think HE is going to give me some strange, yet specific, message to drop everything and go on some wild pilgrimage. I keep waiting but all these needy people keep interrupting!

• GOD wants me to help the needy, that’s how HE is speaking to me.
• GOD wants me to deliver HIS message of deliverance, that’s how HE shows HIS love.
• GOD wants me to keep my heart soft for others so HE puts me in circumstances that enable me to empathize.

When I assume how GOD is going to work, I am usually wrong. I look for HIM in the wrong places and I definitely mistake how HE is going to guide someone’s life. But when I don’t assume and accept HIS plan, HE never disappoints me!

• Are you trying to manipulate GOD into getting your way?
• Do you assume that since you are following HIM things would be better?
• Are you willing to follow GOD even if it means “that” person would leave you?

Why do bad things happen?

Luke 13: ¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

 ¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

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“Why me?” are the words I have exclaimed many times when something went wrong in my life. When my bike was stolen, “why me?” came out of my mouth. When someone totaled my car, “why me?” was top of mind. When that relationship dissolved, “why me?” was hard to figure out. And when that person died “why me?” was the first thing I could think of.

• Satan wants me to ask “why me?” because it weakens my relationship with GOD.
• Satan wants me to ask “why me?” because it increases my selfishness.
• Satan wants me to ask “why me?” because it makes me doubt GOD’s position, abilities and love for me.

“Why me?” is focused on “me” not GOD. In the “circumstance” I call bad, GOD uses for good.  It’s immature to think a difficult circumstance is caused by my recent sin rather than understanding that difficulties are caused “because” I try to serve GOD.

• Immaturity says “why me” when something was stolen from me, maturity says “thank GOD” I am learning not to value possessions more than valuing GOD.
• Immaturity says “why me” when ‘that’ person is not in my life, maturity says “thank GOD” I no longer have that distraction away from my LORD.
• Immaturity says “why me” when ‘that’ person is hurt or dies, maturity says “thank GOD” salvation is available to me, my family and to all who believe.

I have to admit the “cursed” earth concept is hard to swallow.  I question GOD not seeing what HE is doing to make my life better. I blame HIM and fight HIM and challenge HIM rather than giving my will to HIM and doing HIS work. Oh, but when I do follow GOD, marvelous things happen.

Since I am at war with Satan, the question isn’t “why me?” the statement is “of course it’s me!” I am a follow of GOD!

• Have you run into some difficult times?
• Are you asking, “why me?”
• Can you take a moment to understand GOD loves you even through this difficult time?

JESUS is still supernatural!

Mark 5: ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

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Growing up in a large city in modern times has made me cynical towards GOD. I have dentist, doctors and medication available to me to make me feel better.  If one of my vital organs stops working I can just go to the supermarket and have the cashier put in a new one. Okay, I know it’s not that simple but you get the picture.

I hear the questions “Is GOD real” or “Does HE still perform miracles” or “Did HE really do all the miracles stated in the Bible?” My answer is a resounding YES!

• Just because I didn’t see GOD do the miracle doesn’t mean it never happened.
• Just because I didn’t witness JESUS’ resurrection doesn’t mean it isn’t significant.
• Just because I don’t understand how and why JESUS makes things out of nothing doesn’t mean HE can’t.

GOD sometimes seems quite random to me when I look at HIM through my sinful eyes. HE heals some and lets others die. Some people get rich while others struggle. Isn’t there a way to control GOD with my prayer to make HIM less random?

• GOD is the most high and does not bow to humans.
• HE is supreme in HIS decisions because all HIS decisions are based on pure, sinless love.
• GOD has a perfect and pure plan that redeems any human who believes in HIS SON.

Trouble will happen while we live on this earth. I will get emotionally and physically hurt someday I will even die. BUT GOD has given me eternal life and healed my soul of the eternal disease called sin. I have seen GOD do supernatural things. That doesn’t make me special, it makes HIM special.

• Do you believe GOD can heal you or “that” person?
• Even if HE doesn’t is HE still GOD to you?
• Can you grow in your excitement toward the most HIGH GOD?

Is there anything “sacred” in my life?

Titus 1: ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

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“Church is so boring today” I thought to myself. I glanced outside and noticed some of the other kids walking down the street to the candy store. “What a great idea” I thought. The next week, I thought of my lie to get out of sitting in the sermon with my parents.

I took my offering money and went to the candy store. Unfortunately for me we lingered just a tad too long. When we arrived back at the church my parents were standing there waiting with “that” look on their face.

• When I make GOD common I treat HIM like HE is not supreme.
• When I make GOD common I pray out of habit not out of worship.
• When I make GOD common I give when I feel like it or for tax purposes.
• When I make GOD common I guess at HIS ways without learning them.
• When I make GOD common I prey on HIS humans for monetary or lustful gain.

There is a fine line between being extremely judgmental of others and honoring GOD in the way HE wants me to.  The Pharisees made an extreme number of rules that by appearance seemed to be “worshipping GOD” when in reality they sought to be noticed and adored by their congregations for their religious prowess.

GOD is supreme, holy and requires us to view HIM as GOD, not as “the wish doctor.” HE isn’t something we turn to only in troubled times, rather HE is the one and only creator with extreme unmatched supernatural powers. HE is all seeing, all knowing, is everywhere and has always lived.

JESUS, who is GOD, became a human, was murdered and was raised from the dead. This simple fact deserves remembrance, sacred worship and should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately sometimes I think church is for me instead of bowing to my LORD and savior. GOD deserves reverence so I will attempt to do this without judging people around me.

• What way do you treat GOD special in your life?
• Do you set aside time to talk to HIM or learn about HIM?
• Do you brag to others about how good you are or can you let GOD be the judge of your actions?
• Can you elevate GOD and stop treating HIM as common in one area of your life today?